Dwell City LLC recently took the Grand Prize at the Social Entrepreneurship Summit at Temple University. The competition was steep. Check out this post for more information on all of the finalists who were included in competition. The pitch competition included an upper track, lower track, and grand prize that could be claimed by any of the finalists. While all of the competitors were solving a societal or economic problem, their triple bottom line was evaluated rigorously by the panel of expert judges. which included VCs, Incubator Leaders, and potential funders. The complete list of finalists can be found below.

2018 Social Entrepreneurship Summit:

Live Pitch Competition Finalists

UNDERGRADUATE TRACK

Cibux by Khai Nguyen, College of Science and Technology ‘21

This mobile application functions as a personal meal-prep tool to help solve the problem of food waste, and allows people to lead healthier lifestyles. Users can input their cuisine choice, energy/nutrition needs, expected weekly spending, and choose from a list of food suppliers, including groceries, farms and most importantly, imperfect produce companies. The app will link with their shopping account to get the available ingredients at a store and give out recipe suggestions that shows where the food come from and where it will go if got wasted.

Earth Cycle by James Seykot, Klein College of Media and Communications ‘19

Earth Cycle invites you to reimagine your relationship with recycling. On our B2C side, we are offering people who recycle credit, changing the narrative of recycling from a boring, faceless interaction to a fun and exciting rewards program. On a B2B side we are encouraging businesses to recycle with us by offering tax credit. Every MINUTE there is the equivalent of a garbage truck of plastic being dumped in the ocean and millions of animals are dying. We are ethically sourcing plastic from oceans and our partners, repurposing it into construction for impoverished communities and into a product line without planned obsolescence.

Lingua by Pooja Rampabhu, Fox School of Business ‘21

The key to successfully elevate yourself in anything is confidence, especially in speaking a language that is a gateway to communication in the current globalizing world. Lingua is a non-profit, education-based mobile application that uses a “pen-pal” approach to connect a native English speaker to a child learning English in a developing country through various conversational and interaction techniques and activities. By allowing children to converse on a daily basis to supplement their classroom English education, our goal is to foster the confidence a child would need to succeed and excel amongst their peers around the world.

Organic Oasis by Alexa Gingerich, College of Liberal Arts ‘18

Organic Oasis is an afterschool program that combines health, sustainability, and play to teach healthy eating and farming to elementary school children in suburban communities. Kids will learn basic cooking, gardening, and healthy eating skills in a playful manner. The harvests will be donated to families in low-income urban areas. In this effort, we aim to positively influence the children’s perspectives on healthy eating and sustainability and also make healthy foods more accessible.

Project Greenby Christopher Christensen, Fox School of Business

Project Green is focused on pairing inner-city kids and veterans to take hiking and camping trips to local parks and trails. These veterans use their skills and knowledge from the military to teach kids and get them interested in the outdoors. This provides new skills, confidence, and helps build relationships with nature and kids.

The ReTired Projectby Luke Moran, University Studies ‘22

The ReTired Project looks to use recycled rubber tires, biodegradable cork, and other recycled plastics to manufacture a variety of footwear including sneakers, sandals, flats, etc. Aside from reducing landfill overflow and air pollution, in partnership with an organization like "Soles4Souls,” for every pair of shoes sold, one pair will be donated to an underprivileged individual in a third-world country or in the United States. Providing adequate footwear to these individuals should help to prevent diseases transmitted through barefoot exposure in unsanitary living conditions.

VGN4U by Abigail Misbin, Fox School of Business ‘21

VGN4U is an app that could help bring veganism and plant-based, eco-friendly eating to the masses. VGN4U works by taking a users' preferred foods and recommending cruelty- and animal-free alternatives and substitutes. By combining a friendly and encouraging user interface and an abundance of products for consumers to choose from, VGN4U can show people how easy eco-eating can be.

UPPER TRACK

Airapyby Rachel Cox, Fox School of Business ‘18

For busy people who want to schedule mental health services quickly, Airapy is a web-based platform that allows patients to search for a local therapist, view real-time appointment availability and make a booking--without having to make a call or send an email. The online marketplace eliminates many of the barriers (such as marketing, office rental, utilities, and insurance) that prevent licensed therapists from starting a private practice. Airapy makes it easy for therapists to start seeing patients in a dramatically underserved marketplace.

Building Relationships in Communities (BRIC)by Veronica Ayala-Flores, Tyler School of Art ‘16

Building Relationships in Communities (BRIC) is an organization seeking to create stronger neighborhoods by performing small projects that foster constructive and inclusive relationships between traditionally separate communities. At the moment, our efforts are concentrated in the area of North Philadelphia.

Dwell City, LLC by Ijanae Jackson, Fox School of Business ‘20

The mission of Dwell City LLC to “combat gentrification though innovation in affordable housing.” We provide innovative housing solutions for Philadelphians who are considered low to middle income by utilizing community living, reverse flipping, and energy efficiency. Our goal is to provide 10,000 additional units of affordable housing in desirable and convenient locations by 2030. Depending on where a person dwells, s/he will (or will not) have access to: a quality education, a balanced diet, safety, and other basic needs. We want to give every Philadelphian the opportunity to dwell in the city.

GreenBoxby Joseph Peters, Tyler School of Art

A “gas station” for humans, GreenBox provides a strategic network of automated retail kiosks that sells directly to consumers who are cyclists, runners, and pedestrians along regional trails, parks, and urban centers. GreenBox will increase regional active transportation, increase comfort and reduced anxiety associated with longer distances traveled, reduce the consumption of fossil fuels, reduce CO2 dioxide and other pollutants, reduce motor vehicle congestion, encourage people to get outdoors and be active, and lead to the discussion of social issues.

Let's Dance is an intergenerational dance project that engages participants in social dances. The project bridges the gap between generations in North Philadelphia while enhancing the quality of life of everyone involved. It allows participants to share a dance and stories with a new friend and neighbor.

Nebula Talent Group by Will Bubenik, School of Sport, Tourism, & Hospitality Management ‘18

Nebula Talent Group is a sports and entertainment agency empowering those with intellectual and physical disabilities through talent management and brand consulting. Leveraging the the power of relationships, inclusion, community, and brand building, we aim to become the market leader in empowering those with all types of disabilities to create their own future in sports and entertainment.